I go back to school in about two weeks. This will be my senior year in High School. Luckily, I received the obligatory Summer injury just in time. Specifically, a sprained ankle.

It happened while my sister and I were watching the Leonid meteors. We were near a local Lutheran (pre-) school in a small field with apple trees lining the perimeter of the field. At some point, I saw some guy walking by. He stopped when he saw us and started to move towards the bushes that were near the apple trees on the east edge of the field. I was not particularly worried. I just thought it was some prankster trying to spook us for a laugh. My sister noticed that he had been standing in the bushes, watching us for awhile. She became worried and we both opted to go back home.

If "sin" is defined as deviation from the way of god, then objectively there is not and never has been any such thing, because there is not and never has been any god. I think that, when the point is reached where the material and ideological conditions exist for humanity to voluntarily and consciously change itself and the world, then there will also be no subjective basis for "sin", because there will no longer be a need or basis for belief in god. At that point and into the future, there will of course still be right and wrong, good and bad --in the sense that of what does and does not conform to objective reality and does and does not contribute to forging freedom from necessity and enhancing the ability of society and the individuals who comprise it to continue developing in an all-around way. Then there will no longer be the notion of "sin."

I'm so confused by believers who feel threatened by a perceived lack of "meaning" in a secular outlook. It's been so long since I've asked questions about "meaning," and now it just seems so foolish to ask. We are simply awash in motives and purposes. If you can't find a purpose, I can only guess it's due to some nihilism perceived in the cartoon caricature most believers have of atheism. There are so many people that need help, so many things that need improvement, so many ways to improve conditions within our lifetimes, or for even longer views. I can't imagine doing anything for the sake of

(This is an original post from my facebook page, I have posted this up on various facebook groups as well as atheist websites)

Isn't It Strange...

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Before you read this note I want to make clear this piece is just my opinion, nothing more or nothing less. I am aware that I may in the process of writing this note may offend some of my dearest friends, but please note that I do not have the slightest intention of upsetting anyone. This is just my intellectual opinion. I just could not bring myself to believe in a supernatural god. You are welcome to express opinions differing from my own, and I have no intention of forcing my ideas onto you. The main objective of this short piece is to bring out closet atheists and an attempt at persuading people that are on the fence about religious matters.

I thought I'd share Kevin Bloody Wilson's (Aussie Comic Singer) lyrics to his song "Festival of Life."

Happily, I moved onto a boat a couple of years ago and haven't had a copy of The Watchtower since, but have long dreamed of being able to play this loudly as the JW's or the Mormons do their Saturday morning rounds.

"Ah, the Festival of Life is 'in' to save my fuckin' soul
They don't want me drinkin' piss or screwin' round no more
But they've got fuckin' Buckley's chance I'm giving you the score
Still the Festival of Life keeps tryin' to save my fuckin' soul

It's Saturday afternoon at last, it's what you've waited for all week

I've recently come across a YouTube pundit (cross between Drew Carey and Rush Limbaugh: meaning he's fat, has a bad haircut, and thick glasses) who's basically rehashing the Kelly Tripplehorn "problem of induction" argument. He maxes out the video, talking for ten minutes, hemming and hawing with a lot of pseudo-intellectual demands that -- I don't know, it's hard to tell what he's trying to say. I guess he wants proof the universe doesn't need a "god." It's just... so mind-bendingly idiotic. It literally makes me feel light-headed dealing with so much double-talk.

Here's the rub: There's no evidence for "god." It's not that there's some controversey over how we're interpreting the evidence, there is no evidence.

Please take advantage of the Rational Content and FREE MP3 downloads available on this site before making any public statements.

Adam

I have argued against gay rights in my past blogs but I would swear on a stack of dictionaries that I don't hate gay people. I also don't consider anyone "guilty" for loving whoever they love.

Adam

During his debate with Christopher Hitchens, Al Sharpton couldn't get past the title of Hitchens's book, "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything." Hitchens would make a comment about Christianity, Islam, etc., and Sharpton would stop him to interject, "Those are religions. You said 'God' is not great." As if to distinguish between the two was of gravest importance.

What do we know of this "god" thing apart from the descriptions (myriad contradicting descriptions) offered in religious texts? It's elementary to ask for proof of "god," and when none is offered (other than to play with words or call such a thing "necessary") what features does it offer us apart from those we know through the claims of religions?